Collapsible bottle carriers



Aug. 5, 1958 w. A. RINGLER COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 27. 1953 INVENTOR.

WILL/AM A fi/A/GLER ATTORNEY Aug. 5, 1958 w.A. RINGLER 2,846,114

COLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIERS :Filed Feb. 2'7, 1953 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1/I I if. ll 16/ 14 a! \INVENTOR.

l V/LL/AM A. fP/IVGLEI? BY Maw 14 TTORNEK Aug. 5, 1958 w. A. RINGLERCOLLAPSIBLEI BOTTLE CARRIERS Filed Feb. 27, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet 3INVENTOR; W/LLl/IM A. RINGLER ATTORNEY Aug. 5, 1958 w. A. RINGLERQCOLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 27, 1953INVENTOR.

VV/LLl/IM 14, R/NGLER BY ATTORNEY Aug. 5, 1958 w. A. RINGLEROCOLLAPSIBLE BOTTLE CARRIERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 27. 1953INVENTOR. W/LL/AM ,4. fP/NQLER BY United States Patent COLLAPSIBLEBOTTLE CARRIERS William A. Ringler, Wayne, Pa., assignor, by mesneassignments, to The Diamond Match Company, New

York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application February 27, 1953,Serial No. 339,350

7 Claims. (Cl. 220-113) This invention relates to collapsible bottlecarriers and more particularly to twin compartmented multicelled bottlecarriers formed from paperboard or fiberboard materials which aredesigned to permit flat collapse thereof during shipment and storage andconvenient erection for bottle filling and transportation. Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of my copending application SerialNo. 287,117, filed May 10, 1952, now Patent No. 2,696,942.

In construction, these bottle carriers present flat side and end wallpanels which extend when erected from the flattened bottom panel to anydesired height. The center partition may be of multi-ply thickness,extends the full length of the carrier and down to the erected bottompanel, and provides a strong and rugged backbone structure for thecarrier. The handle part is formed as an integral extension of thecenter partition structure and is of uniform four ply thicknessthroughout its length. The cell forming cross partitions may be ofdouble ply thickness in the area contacted by adjacent bottles, and mayextend from the expanded and erected bottom panel to any desired height.The cross partitions are firmly but foldably secured to the interiorfaces of the side panels and the plural ply center partition structure.Bottle carriers constructed in accordance with this invention are rigidand sturdy when erected, unyielding to bottle load strains, areconvenient to collapse, can be easily and quickly erected and insertedinto the shipping case, present substantially flat surface areas for thereception of attractive advertising decoration, and can beadvantageously used either for single use bottles or returnable bottles.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent asthe disclosure proceeds.

Although the characteristic features of this invention will beparticularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself, and themanner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood byreferring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part hereof in which:

Fig. 1 is an inside face view of the carrier blank as cut from apaperboard or fiberboard stock sheet which may caliper from fifteen totwenty thousandths of an inch in thickness, this view also showingadhesive applied to the cross partition reinforcing flaps preliminary toexecuting the initial folding operation;

Fig. 1A is an inside face view of a blank formed as shown in Fig. 1 buthaving cross partition reinforcing flaps of slightly modified form;

Fig. 2 is an inside face view of the blank shown in Fig. 1 after thecross partition reinforcing flaps have been folded into adhesiverelation to their associated cross partitions, this view also showingadhesive applied to additional areas of the blank preparatory toexecution of the second folding operation;

Fig. 2A is an inside face view of the blank shown in Fig. 1A having themodified cross partition reinforcing flaps as they would appear whenfolded into adhesive relation to their associated cross partitions;

Fig. 3 is an inside face view of the blank shown in Fig. 2 as the samewould appear after the second folding operation has been completed, thisview showing adhesive applied to further areas of the blank inpreparation for the third folding operation;

Fig. 4 is an inside face view of the blank shown in Fig. 3 as it wouldappear after the third folding operation has been executed, this viewalso showing adhesive applied to still further areas of the blankpreparatory to performing the fourth folding operation;

Fig. 5 is an inside face view of the blank shown in Fig. 4 as it wouldappear after the fourth folding operation has been executed thereon,this view also showing adhesive applied to additional areas of the blankpreparatory to executing the fifth and final folding operation;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the fully assembled carrier as it would appearin collapsed form and after the fifth folding operation has beenperformed on the blank shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross sectional view of a partially folded blankas viewed along line 7-7 of Fig. 5; this view showing the blank partsand glued areas. thereof in substantially greater thickness than isactually the case, to more clearly reveal structural details;

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the assembled carrier as it would appearwhen undergoing erection expansion from its collapsed form as shown inFig. 6; 1

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the fully erected carrier as formed fromthe blank shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 10 is a horizontal cross section of the fully erected carrier asthe same would appear when viewed on line 1010 of Fig. 9, this View alsoshowing in phantom lines the cross sectional outline of the bottles asthey would appear when nested in the cells of the carrier.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views of the drawings and specification.

In preparing the carrier forming blanks in the form shown in Fig. 1,paperboard or fiberboard stock sheets of selected quality and which maycaliper from fifteen to twenty thousandths of an inch in thickness, arefirst printed and decorated on one side thereof only. The carrierforming blanks may then be scored and cut in a single pass through acutting and scoring machine, adjusted to perform the requisite cuttingand scoring operation. It will be noted that the carrier forming blanksare so shaped and designed as to yield very little waste in stock sheetmaterial, and are designed to permit high speed gluing and folding ofthe carrier forming blanks in a single pass through an automatic gluingand folding machine of substantially standard construction. As a resultof the permissible economies achieved in cutting, scoring, gluing andfolding of the blanks by high speed machine opera-' tion to therebyproduce the fully assembled collapsed carriers, and the furthereconomies resulting from the use of substantially lighter weight stocksheets than has heretofore been considered necessary to provide carriersmeeting shipping requirements, carriers made in accord ance with thisinvention can be produced at substantially less cost than carriers ofcorresponding quality and servi-ceability as heretofore made andconstructed.

The prepared bottle carrier forming blank as shown in Fig. 1 is cut andscored to provide a bottom panel designed to support two rows ofbottles, with three bottles in each row. The bottom panel comprisesbottom half sections 1 and 1 of similar size hingedly connected along alongitudinally extending collapsing score 21. Side panels 2 and 2 arefoldably connected to the opposite side edges of the bottom sections 1and 1' along parallel ex- ,tending scores 22 and 22' which are alsoparallel to the 1 bottom collapsing score 21, Wings w and w are formedto extend from both side edges of the side panels 2 and 2' to therebyprovide a bottle carrier blank which is generally H-shaped inconfiguration.

The left hand wings w and w of the blank shown in Fig. 1 are scored toform a pair of end panel sections 3 and 3 foldably connected along scorelines 23 and 23 to the adjacent side edges of the side panels 2 and 2'respectively. A pair of end cell center partition sections and 5' arefoldably connected along score lines 25 and 25 to the respective endpanel sections 3 and 3'. Cross partition sections 7 and 7 are foldablyconnected along score lines 27 and 27' to the respective centerpartition sections 5 and 5. A pair of cross partition reinforcing flaps9 and 9 may he foldably connected along score lines 29 and 29 to therespective cross partition sections 7 and 7'.

The cross partition sections 7 and 7' are each provided with spaced foottabs 7" which are captured from material cut from the cross partitionreinforcing flaps-9 and 9 by spaced cuts 29" as shown in Fig. l. Thespaced foot tabs 7" are thus hinged to the adjacent cross partitionsections 7 and 7 along the scores 29 and 29 and provide means forsecuring the associated cross partition sections 7 and 7 to the insideface of the adjacent side panels 2 and 2' when the carrier is assembled.The spaced foot tabs are separated by the cut lines 29" to define one ormore intervening leg portions 9" hinged to the adjacent cross partitionsections 7 and 7' along the adjacent scores 29 and 29 to thus form apart of the cross partition re'mforcing flaps 9 and 9'. As thusconstructed, the cross partition reinforcing flaps 9 and 9' and theirassociated leg portions 9" may be folded about the aligned scores 29 and29 into adhesively secured relation to the adjacent cross partitionsections as shown in Fig. 2, leaving the foot tabs 7 free for securementto the inside face of the adjacent side wall panels 2 and 2'.

The wing extensions w and w at the right hand side of the blank as shownin Fig. l, are also scored to form a pair of end panel sections 4 and 4'foldably connected along score lines 24 and 24 to the adjacent sideedges of the respective side panels 2 and 2. A pair of end cell centerpartition sections 6 and 6' are foldably connected along score lines 26and 26 to the respective end panel sections 4 and 4'; and a pair ofcross partition sections 8 and 8' are foldably connected along scorelines 28 and 28 to the respective center partition sections 6 and 6'. Apair of cross partition reinforcing flaps 10 and 10 may be foldablyconnected along score lines 30 and 30' to the respective cross partitionsections 8 and 8'.

The cross partition sections 8 and 8' are each provided with spaced foottabs 8 captured from material cut out of the adjacent cross partitionreinforcing flaps 10 and 10 by spaced cuts 30" as shown in Fig. 1. Thespaced foot tabs 8" are hinged to the adjacent cross partition sections8 and 8' along the scores 30 and 30 and thus provide means for securingthe associated cross partition sections 8 and 8' to the inside face ofthe adjacent side panels 2 and 2. The spaced foot tabs 8 as separated bythe spaced cuts 30" define one or more intervening leg portions 10"which are hinged to the adjacent cross partition sections 8 and 8' alongthe scores 30 and 30 and which form a part of the cross partitionreinforcing flaps 10 and 10. As thus constructed, the cross partitionreinforcing flaps 10 and 10' and their associated leg portions 10" maybe folded about the scores 30and 30' into adhesively secured relation tothe adjacent cross partition sections 8 and 8' as shown in Fig. 2,leaving the foot tabs 8" free for securement to the inside face of theadjacent side wall panels 2 and 2.

The some lines 23, 25, 27 and 29 which traverse the upper left hand wingw of the blank as shown in Fig. 1 are preferably arranged insubstantially parallel and equally spaced relationship and insubstantial alignment with the score lines 23', 25, 27 and 29' whichtraverse the 4 lower left hand wing w of the blank. As thus formed anddefined, the end panel sections 3 and 3, the end cell center partitionsections 5 and 5, and the reinforced cross partition sections 7 and 7have a substantially uniform width which approximates the diameter ofthe bottles to be contained in the cells formed thereby. Similarly, thescores 24, 26, 28 and 30 which traverse the upper right hand wing w ofthe blank are substantially in alignment with the corresponding scores24, 26', and 30' and are substantially equally spaced, so that the endpanel sections 4 and 4', the end cell center partition sections 6 and 6,and the reinforced cross partition sections 8 and 8' have a width whichclosely approximates the diameter of the bottles to be placed in thecarrier cells formed thereby.

closed end cells at one end of the carrier, and with the end panelsections 4 and 4, the end cell center partition sections 6 and 6' andthe reinforced cross partition sections 8 and 8' forming another pair offully enclosed end cells at the other end of the carrier. In addition,the spaced and reinforced cross partition sections 7 and 8 togetherdefine an intermediate bottle receiving cell for one compartment of thecarrier, and the spaced and reinforced cross partition sections 7' and 8together define an intermediate cell for the other compartment of thecarrier. The intermediate cells as thus formed are separated medially ofthe carrier by a pair of overlapping center divider sections 11 and 12which are captured from material otherwise discarded as waste betweenadjacent pairs of wing extensions w and w at the left and right handsides of the blank.

The center divider section 11 is captured from material otherwisediscarded as waste between the left hand wings w and w of the blank, isfoldably connected by a score line 31 to the bottom forming edge of theend cell center partition section 5, and is separated from the bottomforming edge of the cross partition section 7, its adjacent foot tab 7"and the reinforcing flap 9 by a cut line 31' which is substantially inalignment with the folding score 31. The opposite top forming edge 11'of the center divider section 11 extends substantially down to but isseparated from the bottom forming edge of the adjacent lower left handwing extension w. The com panion center divider section 12 is similarlycaptured from material otherwise discarded as waste between the upperand lower right hand wing extensions w and w of the blank as shown inFig. 1. The center divider section 12 is foldably connected by scoreline 32 to the bottom forming edge of the end cell center partitionsection 6 and is separated from the bottom forming edge of the adjacentcross partition section 8, its adjacent foot tab 8" and the reinforcingflap 10 by a out line 32' which is substantially in alignment with thefolding score 32. The opposite top forming edge 12' of the centerdivider section 12 also extends substantially down to but is separatedfrom the bottom forming edge of the adjacent lower right hand wingextension w' as shown in Fig. l.

The carrier formed from the blank shown in Fig. 1 is equipped with amulti-ply handle part which is formed as an integral part of the blank.The handle part is formed by a pair of handle forming extensions 13 and13' integral with and projecting upwardly from the center partitionsections 5 and 5, and a corresponding pair of handle forming extensions14 and 14 integral with and projecting upwardly from the paired centerpartition sections 6 and 6'. The handle forming extensions 13 and 13'are provided with laterally projecting handle forming straps 15 and 15'which are separated from the adjacent crosspartition sections 7 and 7'by hand hole cutouts 35.

The handle forming extensions 14 and 14' at the right hand side of theblank are similarly equipped with laterally projecting handle formingstraps 16 and 16' which are also separated from the adjacent crosspartition sec tions 8 and 8' by hand hole cutouts 35. The handle formingstraps 15 and 16 associated with the handle extensions 13 and 14 are ofsuch length that when the carrier is fully assembled, the end edgesthereof will substantially abut to form an abutment joint 34 as shown inFigs. 4, 5, 8 and 9. Similarly, the handle forming straps 15 and 16associated with the handle extensions 13' and 14' are of such lengththat the end edges thereof will substantially abut to form an abutmentjoint 34' when the carrier is fully assembled. Thus the handleextensions 13 and 14 and their associated handle forming straps 15 and16, together with the handle extensions 13 and 14 and their associatedhandle forming straps 15' and 16, provide a handle section of two plythickness, with the abutment joints 34 and 34 arranged in staggeredrelation as shown in Figs. 8 and 9.

The two ply handle section as thus formed is strengthened and itsappearance enhanced by the provision of handle facing flaps 18 and 18'which are foldably connected by score lines 26" to the side edges of theadjacent handle forming extensions 14 and 14', with the folding scores26" forming aligned continuations of the scores 26 and 26. The handlefacing flaps 18 and 18 are captured from sheet material otherwisediscarded as waste and located between the depressed top edges 2 of theside panels 2 and 2' and the depressed top edges 4 of the adjacent endpanel sections 4 and 4. The longitudinal length of the handle facingflaps 18 and 18 is substantially equal to the overall length of thecomposite handle part and when folded into assembled position, presenttheir finished and decorated faces to View. The handle facing flaps 18and 18 are also provided with hand hole cutouts 35 which align with thehand hole cutouts 35 formed in the handle forming extensions 13 and 14,13' and 14' when the carrier is assembled. The handle facing flaps 18and 18 may also be provided with edge rounding flaps 19 and 19' capturedfrom material which would otherwise be removed in the formation of thehand hole cutouts 35 therein.

In assembling the bottle carrier from the blank shown in Fig. 1, areasof adhesive a and a are applied to the inside face of the crosspartition reinforcing flaps and 10', and corresponding areas of adhesiveb and b are simultaneously applied to the inside face of the crosspartition reinforcing flaps 9 and 9' as shown in Fig. 1. During travelof the blank through the gluing and folding machine, the cross partitionreinforcing flaps 9 and 9, 10 and 10 are folded into adhesive securedrelation to their associated cross partition sections 7 and 7 and 8 and8' respectively as shown in Fig. 2, leaving the foot tabs 7" and 8"projecting laterally therefrom.

Adhesive spots c and c are applied to the inside faces of the sidepanels 2 and 2 or alternatively to the projecting foot tabs 8", and inaddition, areas of adhesive d and d are applied to the handle formingextensions 14 and 14' as shown in Fig. 2. The blank is then folded alongaligned scores 26, 26' and 26" so as to place the end cell centerpartition sections 6 and 6 in overlying relation to the end panelsections 4 and 4, to place the reinforced cross partition sections 8 and8 and the foot tabs 8" associated therewith in overlying relation to theinside face of the side panels 2 and 2, and to additionally place theglued handle forming extensions 14 and 14 1n overlying and in gluedrelation to the inside face of the handle facing flap 18 and 18 as shownin Fig. 3. In this same operation, the center divider section 12 isplaced in partial overlying relation to the bottom half sections 1 and1'.

In the same or in a subsequent operation, adhesive spots e and e' areapplied to the inside faces of the side wall panels 2 and 2', oralternatively to the infolded foot tabs 7". Additionally, areas ofadhesive 1 and f are applied to the handle forming extensions 13 and13', with spaced strips of adhesive g also applied to the inside face ofthe center divider section 11. The left hand wings of the blank are thenfolded along the aligned scores 23 and 23 so as to place the end panelsections 3 and 3', the cross partition sections 7 and 7 and the foottabs 7" in superimposed relation to the inside face of the side panels 2and 2 as shown in Fig. 4. By the same folding operation, a substantialpart of the center divider section 11 will be superimposed andadhesively secured to the previously folded center divider section 12 sothat the composite center divider as formed by the overlapped centerdivider sections 11 and 12 will have a length substantially equal to theset up length of the carrier.

Upon the application of pressure to the thus folded blank, the foot tabs7" and 8" will become adhesively secured to the inside faces of the sidepanels 2 and 2' to thereby complete the assembly of the paired end cellsat both ends of the carrier. Additionally, the handle formingextensions13 and 14 will also be adhesively secured to the handle facing flap 18,with the ends of the handle extensions 13 and 14 forming an abutmentjoint 34 as shown in Fig. 4. By this same operation,

the handle forming extensions 13 and 14"will be adhesively secured tothe handle facing flap 18, with the free ends of the handle extensions13' and 14 forming an abutment joint 34' in staggered relation to theabutment joint 34.

In the next operation, bands of adhesive h are applied to the overlappedcenter divider sections 11 and 12 as shown in Fig. 4, and the compositecenter divider then folded along the aligned hinging scores 31 and 32 soas to place the center divider into adhesively secured relation to thespaced end cell center partition sections 5 and 6 as shown in Fig. 5. Tocomplete the assembly of the carrier, adhesive areas i are applied tothe end cell center partition sections 5 and 6 and to their associatedhandle forming extensions 13 and 14 as shown in Fig. 5. As the finalfolding operation, the partially assembled blank as shown in Fig. 5 isfolded along the bottom collapsing score 21 so as to place the end cellcenter partition sections 5' and 6' in adhesively secured relation tothe center divider sections 11 and 12, and to additionally place thehandle forming extensions 13 and 14 in adhesively secured relation tothe handle forming extensions 13 and 14, thereby providing the completedcarrier in collapsed form as shown in Fig. 6.

To erect the fully assembled but collapsed carrier as shown in Fig. 6,the bottom panel at the collapsing score- 21 may be placed on a flatsurface and downward pressure exerted thereon, thereby causing thecarrier to becomepartially expanded into the form shown in Fig. 8. Fullexpansion and erection of the carrier can then be accomplished byshifting the handle part and the associated center partition structureso as to square up the end panel sections in relation to the end edgesof the bottom panel. To maintain the carrier in erected form, hookportions 17 and 17' may be formed in the bottom ends of the end cellcenter partition sections 5 and 5 as shown in Fig. 1 which are designedto interlock with an appropriate notch 21' formed in the adjacent end ofthe bottom panel at the terminus of the bottom collapsing score 21.

The bottle carrier thus fully assembled as shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10from the blank shown in Fig. 1, presents a composite center partitionstructure which is of triple ply thickness between the end cells and ofdouble ply thickness between the intermediate cells, with both ends ofthe center divider sections 11 and 12 firmly held and laminated betweenthe adjacent end cell center partition sections 5 and 5' and 6 and 6.The handle part of the carrier as shown in Fig. 9 is of four plythickness, with the handle forming extensions 13 and 13 and 14 and 14'forming integral continuations of the end cell center partition sectionsand 5, 6 and 6' of the center partition structure. As assembled, thehand hole cutouts 35 in the handle facing flaps 18 and 18' and in thehandle forming extensions 13 and 13, 14 and 14 fall into alignment whenthe carrier is assembled, and thereby provide a four ply hand holeopening whose hand grip is reinforced and made comfortable by theupturned edge rounding flaps 19 and 19' as shown in Fig. 9. p

The side panels 2 and 2' and the end panel sections 3 and 3' and 4 and4' may be made of any desired height to adequately display the beveragebottles contained therein. The reinforced cross partition sections 7 and7 and 8 and 8' may be made to extend the full height of the side wallsand may be of double ply thickness in the central area thereof wherethey are contacted by adjacent bottles B inserted in the cells of thecarrier as indicated in Fig. 10. The reinforced cross partition sections7 and 7 and 8 and 8 are firmly but foldably secured to the adjacent sidepanels 2 and 2 by their associated foot tabs 7" and 8" and provide addedstrength and reinforcement to the carrier.

While certain novel features of this invention have been disclosedherein and are pointed out in the claims, it will be understood thatvarious omissions, substitutions, and changes may be made by thoseskilled in the art without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A twin-compartmented bottle carrier formed from a one-piece blankwhich includes a bottom panel, a pair of side panels foldably connectedto the opposite side edges of the bottom panel, a pair of end panelsections at each end of the carrier foldably connected to the adjacentside edges of the side panels, a center partition structure formed by apair of inwardly extending center partition sections arranged in back toback relationship and foldably connected to each pair of end panelsections, and a center divider foldably connected to the lower end ofone of said center partition sections and having the side edges thereofpositioned between adjacent pairs of center partition sections andspanning the space between the spaced pairs of center partitionsections, a cross partition section foldably connected to each of saidcenter partition sections and secured to the inside face of the adjacentside panel, and a multi-ply handle part having a hand hole openingtherein formed by a pair of handle extensions integral with andprojecting upwardly from each pair of center partition sections andsecured together in overlapped relationship, a handle forming coreportion having a hand hole therein integral with and projectinglaterally from one of said handle extensions and presenting a terminalend in substantially flush alignment with and adjacent to the terminalend edge of the directly opposite handle extension and spanning thespace between said handle extensions, and a handle facing flap having ahand hole therein overlying and secured to the core portion and handleextensions and integrally hinged at one end thereof to one of saidhandle extensions.

2. A twin-compartmented bottle carrier formed from a one-piece blankwhich includes a bottom panel, a pair of side panels foldably connectedto the opposite side edges of the bottom panel, a pair of end panelsections at each end of the carrier foldably connected to the adjacentside edges of the side panels, a center partition structure formed by apair of inwardly extending center partition sections arranged in back toback relationship and foldably connected to each pair of end panelsections, and a center divider foldably connected to the lower end ofone of said center partition sections and having the side edges thereofpositioned between adjacent pairs of center partition sections andspanning the space between the spaced pairs of center partitionsections, a cross partition section foldably connected to each of saidcenter partition sections and secured to the inside face of the adjacentside panel, and a multi-ply handle part having a hand hole openingtherein formed by a pair of handle extensions integral with andprojecting upwardly from each pair of center partition sections andsecured together in overlapped relationship, a double-ply handle formingcore having a hand hole therein formed by a pair of overlapping coreportions integral with and projecting laterally from diagonally oppositehandle extensions and each presenting a terminal end in substantiallyflush alignment with and adjacent to an edge of the directly oppositehandle extension and spanning the space between said handle extensions,and a handle facing flap having a hand hole therein overlying andsecured to the outer face of said handle forming core and handleextensions and integrally hinged at one end thereof tonne of said handleextensions.

3. A twin-compartmented bottle carrier formed from a one-piece blankwhich includes a bottom panel, a pair of side panels foldably connectedto the opposite side edges of the bottom panel, a pair of end panelsections at each end of the carrier foldably connected to adjacent sideedges of the side panels, a center partition structure formed by a pairof inwardly extending center partition sections arranged in back to backrelationship and foldably connected to each pair of end panel sections,and a center divider foldably connected to the lower end of one of saidcenter partition sections and having the side edges thereof positionedbetween adjacent pairs of center partition sections and spanning thespace between the spaced pairs of center partition sections, a crosspartition section foldably connected to each of said center partitionsections and secured to the inside face of the adjacent side panels, anda multi-ply handle part having a hand hole opening therein formed by apair of handle extensions integral with and projecting upwardly fromeach pair of center partition sections and secured together inoverlapped relationship, a double-ply handle forming core having a handhole therein formed by a pair of overlapping core portions integral withand projecting laterally from diagonally opposite handle extensions,each of said core portions presenting a terminal end in substantiallyflush alignment with and adjacent to the directly opposite handleextension and spanning the space between said handle extensions, and apair of handle facing flaps having hand holes therein overlying andsecured to the opposite outer faces of said core and handle extensions,each of said handle facing flaps being integrally hinged at one endthereof to an adjacent handle extension.

4. A one-piece bottle carrier forming blank having a bottom panel, apair of opposite side panels foldably connected to said bottom panel, apair of wing extensions projecting laterally from adjacent side edges ofboth side panels, each of said wing extensions including an end panelsection foldably connected to a side edge of the adjacent side panel, acenter partition section foldably connected to the end panel section,and a cross partition section foldably connected to the adjacent centerpartition section, a center divider section foldably connected to thebottom edge of one of said center partition sections and captured frommaterial between an adjacent pair of wing extensions, a handle extensionprojecting from the upper end of each of said center partition sections,one of said handle extensions having a hand grip portion separated fromthe adjacent cross partition section and projecting laterally therefrom,said hand grip portion having a free end edge designed to substantiallyabut but not overlap the adjacent free end edge of the directly oppositehandle extension when the carrier is assembled from said blank and ahandle facing flap foldably connected at one end thereof to one of saidhandle forming extensions and separable from the upper edge of theadjacent end panel section and side panel and having a longitudinallength substantially equal to the length of said side panels.

5. A one-piece bottle carrier forming blank having a bottom panel, apair of opposite side panels foldably connected to said bottom panel, apair of wing extensions projecting laterally from adjacent side edges ofboth side panels, each of said wing extensions including an end panelsection foldably connected to a side edge of the adjacent side panel, acenter partition section foldably connected to the end panel section,and a cross partition section foldably connected to the adjacent centerpartition section, a center divider section foldably connected to thebottom edge of one of said center partition sections and captured frommaterial between an adjacent pair of wing extensions, a handle extensionprojecting from the upper end of each of said center partition sections,one of said handle extensions having a hand grip portion separated fromthe adjacent cross partition section and projecting laterally therefrom,said hand grip portion having a free end edge designed to substantiallyabut but not overlap the adjacent free end edge of the directly oppositehandle extension when the carrier is assembled from said blank, and apair of handle facing flaps each foldably connected at one end thereofto one of said handle forming extensions and separable from the upperedge of the adjacent end panel section and side panel, each of saidhandle facing flaps having a longitudinal length substantially equal tothe length of said side panels.

6. A one-piece bottle carrier forming blank having a bottom panel, apair of opposite side panels foldably connected to said bottom panel, apair of wing extensions projecting laterally from adjacent side edges ofboth side panels, each of said wing extensions including an end panelsection foldably connected to a side edge of the adjacent side panel, acenter partition section foldably connected to the end panel section,and a cross partition section foldably connected to the adjacent centerpartition section, a center divider section foldably connected to thebottom edge of one of said center partition sections and captured frommaterial between an adjacent pair of wing extensions, a handle extensionprojecting from the upper end of each of said center partition sections,a pair of hand grip portions projecting laterally from diagonallyopposite handle extensions, each of said hand grip portions beingseparated from the adjacent cross partition section and having a freeend edge designed to substantially abut but not overlap the 10 adjacentfree end edge of the directly opposite handle extension when the carrieris assembled from said blank, and a handle facing flap foldablyconnected at one end thereof to one of said handle forming extensionsand separable from the upper edge of the adjacent end panel section andside panel and having a longitudinal length substantially equal to thelength of said side panels.

7. A one-piece bottle carrier forming blank having a bottom panelpresenting a pair of foldably connected bottom sections, a pair ofopposite side panels foldably connected to said bottom panel, a pair ofwing extensions projecting laterally from the adjacent side edges ofboth side panels, each of said wing extensions including an end panelsection foldably connected to a side edge of the adjacent side panel, acenter partition section foldably connected to the end panel section,and a cross partition section foldably connected to the adjacent centerpartition section, a center divider section foldably connected to thebottom edge of one of said center partition sections and captured frommaterial between an adjacent pair of wing extensions, a handle extensionprojecting from the upper end of each of said center partition sections,a pair of hand grip portions projecting laterally from diagonallyopposite handle extensions, each of said hand grip portions beingseparated from the adjacent' References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,218,353 Bachman Mar. 6, 1917 2,532,446 Hall Dec,5, 1950 2,535,741 Lighter Dec. 26, 1950 2,586,301 Castle Feb. 19, 19522,594,377 Arneson Apr. 29, 1952 2,534,043 Arneson Apr. 7, 1953 2,696,942Ringler Dec. 14, 1954

